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Whest Phono Stages

Having owned several phono stages starting with a more entry level Clear Audio unit (which I actually think is still very nice) and moving up the rungs of the ladder to other offerings; I started to research something which would perform in all of the aspects of what I want. I entered into a long exchange with a friend of mine who has had or used far more phono preamps than I have and he told me that in his opinion the Whest Titan Pro delivered more to his ears than anything else he’s heard. He did not own this unit, it was far outside of his reach cost-wise ($12K); however a friend of his owned it and allowed him to use it for a period of time. He has used tube and solid stage preamps, so he has experience with multiple formats of presentation.

This opinion started my extensive reading from users of the various Whest phono stages and what I was finding is that most Whest users not only stay with Whest, they usually upgrade into newer and more expensive Whest products. Since there are no audio dealers that I am able to go to in order to audition a Whest as they are sold in the US directly from Whest in London, I decided to simply find a used one and find out how it performs for me in my system. I was open to any of the mid level Whest phono stages as all of them are on the expensive side and I didn’t wish to spend the money required to buy something like the Titan Pro, so I kept an eye on what was showing up on the used market. I also spent a fair amount of time exchanging e mails with James Henriot on the differences between the products and what I would get in performance as I was to move up the line. My take away is that all Whest phono stages share elements of the top of the line products like the Titan Pro or the Reference V dual independent mono stages. The more the cost, the more the refinement and specialty elements such as suspension chassis to isolate the internal electronics from vibrations or more discreet hand matched components. It’s all about how much you are willing to pay to get to a new level to dig out the information cut into the vinyl.

Several months ago I found a very lightly used, almost new Whest Three Signature which is a main phono stage chassis with an external dual mono power supply and I bought it. I was shocked at how heavy the power supply is! This small chassis with the toroid transformer must weigh 5 pounds. The construction of both chassis units is really quite outstanding with a beautiful front panel and dual specially made XLR cables which run from the power supply to the main preamp.

The performance of this mid range phono stage ($4K new) is simply amazing. The details it digs out with tremendous dynamic output; it just puts to shame the other preamps I have used over the past two years. I can see why people who use Whest phono stages rave about them.

So now what do I do? Am I to stay with this Whest Three Signature from here forward and be very content? Or what is next? OK, next...... I just ordered a brand new NOS build Whest 2019 version PS.30 RDT SE using the front end components from the new PS.40 RDT series, Clarity caps, zero floating voltage, full chassis suspension, new heavier toroid dual high voltage/current transformers, full discrete bipolar PS.40 matched input section... .etc, etc. James said this 2019 version is a very different animal than all previous PS.30 RDT SE’s. I will have an opportunity shortly to test this against my fully broken in Whest Three.... can’t wait! With the Three  as good as it is, I am very hopeful that I’ll be in for a super treat. I just hope that I am not going to end up spending to get a Titan Pro by year end.....
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slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5 OP
191 posts
 
It has been three months since I posted my initial thoughts on the 2019 PS.30 RDT SE. The phono stage really smoothed out after about 50 hours or so of use. It’s very neutral, no peaks in any range, just wonderful high dynamic output from the low end to the upper end with silky mid’s.

I put my well broken in Whest Three Signature back in line just to hear the differences and I can say the 30 takes things up to a whole new level in detail. They both have that Whest sound as described above, but the detail the 30 pulls out of the recording is quite amazing and it has much smoother upper end which might be due to the change in capacitance James trimmed for my AT20ss.

I was speaking with James about cables to use and he told me that hands down if I were to install the Titan Pro interconnects which are specially designed pro audio phase aligned, it would make a very large improvement in performance in the PS.30 RDT SE. He would be able to build me an interconnect from my SME Series IV to the 30 and another out from the 30 to my main preamp. The two properly phased cables would do quite a lot for the performance. I may go ahead an order the pair. These are the cables which are included with the Titan Pro, which of course costs around $13K. My new 30 has the Titan internal cable harness as part of its construction and the Titan elevated voltage rails.

I may even elect to try out a MC cartridge after doing the cables :)

jtsnead's avatar
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jtsnead
217 posts
 
Sounds great. Just an FYI here is a Titan $4300 US
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124002846849

slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5 OP
191 posts
 
On the surface it looks like a great deal; however there are two points to make.  First its an early model, notice the single power on light vs. all the late models have individual power lights for each mono stage.  They have made considerable design changes over the years with all of the Whest products.   Second issue, its a European model, it runs on 240 volt/50 hz input mains, not 120V 60 hz.   

You have to be careful!
qdrone
1,041 posts
 
My Titan Pro was a European model NOS that James converted  to 120V 60hz and sold it to me as B stock.  It was from a hi fi shop that went under.Bought it 5 years ago when I retired and since had it upgraded to new Titan level.

Yes it is an amazing phono amp and I encourage you to go mc too see what this thing can do. Talk to James,he suggests an Audio Technica MC that won't break the bank. 
I use a Sumiko Talisman Virtuoso dti, a cartridge from the late 80's.i'm fond of and have found NOS on line.
Stay with what you have BUT buy a MC cartridge,you will be amazed. 

slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5 OP
191 posts
 
A friend of mine loved the Titan, he said it was the best phono stage he had ever experienced.  That is what started me on the Whest quest.   

The thing I like about Whest is that James is never content with building a phono stage, he's always tweaking and improving upon what he has built.  He tries to push the envelope in order to extract even more out of the recordings.   My new PS.30 RDT SE 2019 is probably a PS.40 RDT in the 30 clothes so to speak as he built if for me using left over parts of the PS.30 case work and rear panel.  But it seems that the guts are pretty much the 40 series.  

My next stop will be a Titan Pro, not sure when, but that is where I am heading.  But I may order in his pro audio phase aligned Titan Pro interconnects as he told me that will make a BIG difference in his words.  I am also looking at an Ortofon Winfeld Ti MC as my friend Shep has one and he also has the AT 15ss which is almost the same as my AT 20ss and he loves the Ortofon for what it does vs. the AT15ss (which Shep said is the best MM he has ever encountered, I agree).  

I am guessing that you have the Titan Pro interconnects as I assume that they are included with it when you buy a Titan.
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